Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I really hope such an announcement from the Taoiseach would do that. I would love to see the day on which it happens. Mr. Collins is correct that the hostility permeates through all levels of life. One sees it manifest in political life and beyond.

I agree with much of what my colleagues around the table have said. Like Senator Black, I am a new member of this committee so I appreciate the engagement we have had over the past two sessions. It has allowed us to hear and learn a little more. My key question was whether recognition of Traveller ethnicity would really make a practical, tangible difference given the socioeconomic, cultural, community and social issues that exist. On the day that is in it, I believe very firmly in and advocate a politics that is for social justice and respecting and promoting diversity and equality. The delegates, in addition to their colleagues during the last session, have made the argument very clearly that an announcement from the Taoiseach and legislation on ethnicity would be fundamentally important. I appreciate that.

On the issue of the delay or hold-up, I believe the delegates have answered their own question. Mr. Collins referred to the subtext to the narrative, which involves hostility, prejudice and racism towards the Traveller community. Mr. McCann said it was the State that institutionalised the mindset, and that mindset still prevails.

Let me outline my concern and political objective regarding this issue. I hope the Taoiseach makes an announcement on Traveller ethnicity sooner rather than later and recognises it legislatively but I am concerned that the mindset will still prevail. That is my experience in the North regarding the Traveller community. Although there is recognition in the North, all the issues faced by Traveller people in the South arise there. I refer to social, health and educational issues and access to jobs and training opportunities. I do not want to sound too defeatist because I take a great deal of heart from what the delegates have said and are advocating. With the collective political will, we can achieve recognition but the following day we will have to wake up and we will require champions. We will need people such as the delegates kicking hard day after day to put this on the agenda.

The delegations are correct. We are human beings and there is a whole broad range of lobby issues coming at us. This for me is a fundamental issue. Mr. Martin Collins touched on it by pointing to the year that is in it and living up to the aspirations of 1916. If we cannot at the very least respect, support and help our Traveller citizens, then that is a blight on us.